Leon to San Martin del Camino

Leon to San Martin del Camino

It was so cold today we actually got a few snowflakes!

Today was a proud day, I managed to 'keep up' with Martine and Don for most of it. And by this I mean, they slowed down enough so I could trot along beside them.

It was only during the last 3 miles that I waved them on and watch them disappear into the horizon.

I arrived at the albergue 30 minutes behind them, and into a crisis. Not enough beds for all of us. Noooooo!

But the Camino provides (well it does when Martine is in charge) and the owner agreed to open an extra room he'd had workmen in all day. Hooray!

This albergue had writing and graffiti all over the walls. Some of it was inspiring, some was bonkers, and some downright rude:

'Not all those who wander are lost.'
'If Britney can get through 2007, you can get through Camino.'
'Claire is a bitch.' (Not me personally I don't think, but still offensive - this was written in my actual room!)

The albergue was a kind of hostel / bar, and so I drank my own weight in hot chocolate trying to fend off the cold, while we all tucked into a cheese party courtesy of Manon and Ines, who'd been carrying SIX cheeses they'd bought in Leon all day. Did I mention I love these girls?

While Davide, Abdal, Tano and Magda cooked dinner, I discovered children's Monopoly - the exact set me and my sister played with when we were kids. You know, the one where you buy fairground rides instead of properties.

Despite this technically being a children's game, my competitive side came out and I took no prisoners as I romped home to victory. But what I gained in fairground real estate, I feel I lost in dignity - a grown woman really shouldn't get so excited about charging friends to ride the Loop the Loop.

My luck ran out as soon as the big girls and boys game came out - poker is not my thing, not my thing at all. It is Martine's thing though, and she wiped the floor with me, Abdal, Davide and Rasmus (we found Rasmus this evening, more on him in tomorrow's blog).

The wine was flowing that night, and it was one of those great Camino evenings where we all relaxed, 'got real' and really talked.

As I get to know my Camino family better, my affection and admiration for each of them only grows ... unless we're playing Monopoly, then it's every man, woman and child for themselves :-)

San Martin del Camino to Astorga

San Martin del Camino to Astorga

Rest day in Leon

Rest day in Leon